The artist I choose for this week is: Melody Gardot.

I discovered Melody Gardot a little over a week ago. My sister was visiting from Stockholm and one of the first things she said to me was “DOWNLOAD MELODY GARDOT’S MUSIC!”. And when I didn’t listen to her for the first couple of days, she went so far as to steal my iTrip in the car and force me to listen to her. And boy, am I glad she did that!

The first song she told me to listen to was “If The Stars Were Mine” and I can honestly say I was mesmerized by her voice and soft jazz music. Its addictive beat and sweet lyrics quickly made it my favourite song of the week, I could not stop singing it or listening to it. The second song I heard was “Our Love Is Easy”, and even though the lyrics weren’t sad, the song itself brought tears to my eyes. And whatever songs I listened to after those were equally beautiful and addictive.

Melody Gardot’s music is an acquired taste, I know some of you will not like her but for those of you who appreciate her music; I just want to say I freaking love you. I hope you get as addicted to her as I am, because she deserves it.

My favourite songs are obviously “If The Stars Were Mine” and “Our Love Is Easy”. And the lyrics I love the most are those:

Deep within your heart, you know it’s plain to see
Like Adam was to Eve, you were made for me
They say the poisoned vine breeds a finer wine
Our love is easy

From “Our Love Is Easy”

If the stars were mine
I’d give them all to you
I’d pluck them down right from the sky
and leave it only blue
I would never let the sun forget to shine upon your face
so when others would have rain clouds you’d have only sunny days
If the stars were mine
I’d tell you what I’d do
I’d put the stars right in a jar and give ’em all to you

From “If The Stars Were Mine”

Your lips might be sweet
Such that I can’t compete
But your heart is as black as night

I don’t know why you came along at such a perfect time
But if I let you hang around I’m bound to lose my mind

From “Your Heart Is Black As Night”

I hope you like her music. Enjoy these videos!

If you liked her, then visit her Official Website.

Or follow her on Twitter.

The artist I choose for this week is: Regina Spektor.

Now I’m sure most of you already know who Regina Spektor is (and to those who don’t; where have you been living?) but I decided I love her way too much to not write about her as an AOTW.

I discovered Regina Spektor in 2008. I don’t remember how and why it happened, but if I can remember correctly, I think  “Music Box”  was the first song I heard of hers. I remember listening to it for the first time and thinking “My God, this is ridiculous!” and then listening a second time and laughing, and then listening a third time and singing along at the top of my lungs.

Something about Regina’s quirky, fun, and sweet songs make them addictive and irresistibly lovable. It didn’t take too long for me to get a hold of some of her other songs, like “Us”, “On the Radio”, “The Call” and ” Samson” and I was hooked on her beautiful voice and her happy songs.

Her newest album, “Far”, which came out last summer, is one of my favourite albums of all time. I listened to it for 3 whole months, non stop, I never got bored of it and I still listen to it a lot. My favourite songs on it are “Blue Lips”, “Genius Next Door”, “Laughing With” and “Eet”. And here are my favourite lyrics;

If you just hold in your breath
‘Til you come back up in full
Hold in your breath
‘Til you’ve thought it through
You fool

From “Genius Next Door” from the album “Far”

He stumbled into faith and thought,
“God, this is all there is?”
The pictures in his mind arose,
And began to breathe.
And all the gods and all the worlds
Began colliding on a
Backdrop of
Blue.

From “Blue Lips” from the album “Far”

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth
I have to go, I have to go
Your hair was long when we first met

From “Samson” from the album “Begin to Hope”

It’s like forgetting the words to your favorite song
You can’t believe it
You were always singing along
It was so easy and the words so sweet
You can’t remember
You try to feel the beat

From “Eet” from the album “Far”

Enjoy these videos!

If you liked her, visit her Official Website.

The artist I choose for this week is: Maria Mena.

I discovered Maria Mena in late 2007. I remember I was watching a “So You Think You Can Dance” episode and one of the artists chose her song “Sorry”  to dance solo to. The song was so beautiful that I didn’t even get a chance to focus on the dancer, I was too mesmerized by the lyrics to even see what he was trying to do. Minutes later, I was at my laptop getting a hold of that one song. I listened to it all the way and I cried like a baby. At the time, it really spoke to me. And even if it didn’t, the lyrics are so heartbreaking that it would be hard for anyone to listen to it without getting emotional. For some reason, I didn’t think twice to download more of her music – I think I was too overwhelmed by the beauty of ” Sorry” that I never thought anything could be as magical – until I met a friend of mine who when asked if she knew Maria Mena, screamed into my ear asking if I had heard “Just Hold Me”. Upon hearing my reply (which was a “no…”) she pulled out her iPod and stuck the headphones into my ear. I listened to the song all the way to the end with a straight face. “Do you like it?” She asked and I simply nodded. I then ran towards the bathroom and cried for 10 minutes because that song was so beautifully painful.

What I love most about Maria Mena is her straight-from-the-heart lyrics and simple voice. Her music is so breathtaking that you won’t stop listening to her for weeks. My favourite songs are “Sorry”, “Just Hold Me”, “Nevermind Me” and “Belly Up”. And here are my favourite lyrics;

But if I wanted silence
I would whisper
And if I wanted loneliness
I’d choose to go
And if I like rejection
I’d audition
And if I didn’t love you
You would know

From “Just Hold Me”

I just poured my heart out
There’s bits of it on the floor,
And I take what’s left of it and rinse it under cold water
And call him up for more

From ” Sorry”

What is this game we’re playing?
Should I stick around for more?
Snap your fingers I’ll come running,
leave again when you’re bored
with me
I’ll make it easy

From “Nevermind Me”

I’m glad I was able to find many Maria Mena videos on YouTube. Do enjoy them!

If you liked her, follow her on Twitter.

The artist I choose for this week is: Terra Naomi.

I discovered Terra Naomi about 6 months ago while browsing my Last.fm recommendations. I think the first song I heard of hers was “Never Quite Discussed”. It took my breath away then and it still does every time I hear it. The lyrics are so beautiful and her voice is simply enchanting. It took a while for me to find that and the rest of her songs, but when I did I can honestly say that I was hooked. Her powerful lyrics will have you addicted in no time.

My favourite song is the one I mentioned before. “Never Quite Discussed”. It still gives me goosebumps each and every time I hear it, somehow it just never seems to get old.

So let’s pretend that for a moment
we have never loved before
touch my skin
and I will kiss your lips and
we can both ignore
that feeling of wait,
what happens in time
I know this is cool for now
but I just might change my mind
and leave
you there in the dust
I know that you loved me a lot
but it was never quite discussed

From “Never Quite Discussed”

Don’t wait
Act now
This amazing offer won’t last long
It’s only a chance to pave the path we’re on
I know there are more exciting things to talk about
And in time we’ll sort it out
And in time we’ll sort it out

From “Say It’s Possible”

Enjoy the videos.

If you like her, visit her Official Website.

Or follow her on Twitter.